TTLV: From ecological memory to landscape narrative in independent Vietnamese and Thai cinema (the case of Nguyen Trinh Thi's "Letters from Panduranga" and Anocha Suwichakornpong's "By the time it gets dark")

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name: Nguyen Thi Tram 2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: July 1, 1996

4. Place of birth: Quang Ninh

5. Decision No. 4058/2022/QD-XHNV dated December 28, 2022, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the student.

6. Changes in the training process: The thesis title was changed due to adjustments to the scientific theoretical framework during the research process, as per Decision No. 1170/QD-XHNV dated February 21, 2025 (Previous title: Landscape, History and Trauma in Independent Vietnamese and Thai Cinema (case study of the films “Letters from Panduranga” by Nguyen Trinh Thi and “By the Time It Gets Dark” by Anocha Suwichakornpong) as per Decision No. 1567/QD-XHNV dated May 15, 2023).

- Decisions on extending the study period for trainees: No. 6934/QD-XHNV dated December 16, 2024 and No. 4670/QD-XHNV dated June 24, 2025

7. Thesis Title: From Ecological Memory to Landscape Narrative in Independent Vietnamese and Thai Cinema (Case studies of Nguyen Trinh Thi's "Letters from Panduranga" and Anocha Suwichakornpong's "By the Time It Gets Dark")

8. Major: Theory and history of film and television; Code: 8210232

9. Scientific supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Cam Giang, Faculty of Literature, Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

10. Summary of the thesis results: This thesis examined the relationship between ecological memory, landscape narrative, and trauma theory in two independent Vietnamese and Thai films: "Letters from Panduranga" by Nguyen Trinh Thi and "By the Time It Gets Dark" by Anocha Suwichakornpong. Through an interdisciplinary theoretical framework encompassing ecological film criticism, landscape narrative, and trauma theory, the study showed that cinema is not only a tool for reflecting reality but also a creative space where forgotten memories, damaged landscapes, and hidden history are reinterpreted in new ways. From this, the thesis demonstrates that independent Vietnamese and Thai cinema is not only a playground for artistic experimentation but also a place for post-colonial, environmental, historical, and memory-related critical practices. Thus, this research contributes a small part to redefining the role of cinema as a form of memory preservation – not only human memory, but also the memory of landscapes and the living world that is being damaged.

11. Practical Applications: This thesis connects trauma theory with ecological and landscape studies in cinema, opening up a multidisciplinary approach to research on Southeast Asia. The thesis contributes to research on independent cinema, ecological memory, and landscape narrative in Southeast Asia, providing a new perspective on the relationship between nature and urban areas within a cultural and historical context. The research findings can help raise awareness of the importance of nature in preserving cultural and historical memory, thereby supporting environmental protection movements and the preservation of cultural heritage in the region.

12. Future Research Directions: Based on the research results, the thesis suggests several future directions, such as expanding research to other contemporary documentaries or art films in Southeast Asia, especially works by local female directors and artists. Applying ecological memory theory and landscape narrative to the analysis of urban cinema, migration cinema, or intercultural cinema in the context of globalization. Further developing the relationship between cinema and other art forms (video art, installation art) in expressing environmental trauma.

13. Published works related to the thesis: “Deconstructivizing the world through documentary films about ethnic minorities by Nguyen Trinh Thi (the case of Letters from Panduranga)”,Paper presented at the International Conference “From the History of the Other: Women and Female Authors in Vietnamese Literature and Cinema”, Nha Trang, October 2023.

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Nguyen Thi Tram 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: July 1, 1996 4. Place of birth: Quang Ninh

5. Admission decision number: No. 4058/2022/QD-XHNV Dated December 28, 2022, issued by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process: Change of thesis title due to adjustments in the theoretical framework during the research process, according to Decision No. 1170/QD-XHNV dated February 21, 2025.

(Former title: Landscape, history, and trauma in independent cinema of Vietnam and Thailand (Case studies: “Letters from Panduranga” by Nguyen Trinh Thi and “By the time it gets dark” by Anocha Suwichakornpong), as per Decision No. 1567/QD-XHNV dated May 15, 2023)

-Decision on extending the study period of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi:

-No.6934/QD-XHNV dated December 16, 2024

-No.4670/QD-XHNV dated June 24, 2025

7. Official thesis title: From ecological memory to landscape narrative in independent cinema of Vietnam and Thailand (Case studies: “Letters from Panduranga” by Nguyen Trinh Thi and “By the time it gets dark” by Anocha Suwichakornpong)

8. Major: Theory and History of Film and Television 9. Code: 8210232

10. Supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Cam Giang, Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi.

11. Summary of the findings of the thesis: The thesis investigates the interrelation between ecological memory, landscape narration, and trauma theory in two Southeast Asian independent films: Letters from Panduranga by Nguyen Trinh Thi and By the Time It Gets Dark by Anocha Suwichakornpong. Through an interdisciplinary theoretical framework - including eco-cinema criticism, landscape narratology, and trauma studies - the research demonstrates that cinema functions not only as a reflective medium of reality but also as a creative space in which forgotten memories, damaged landscapes, and concealed histories are reimagined in new narrative forms. The thesis argues that Vietnamese and Thai independent cinema serves as a critical site for postcolonial, ecological, historical, and mnemonic practices, contributing to the redefinition of cinema as a medium of memory - encompassing not only human memory but also the memory of landscapes and the wounded lifeworld.

12. Practical applicability: The study links trauma theory with ecological and cinematic research, involving a multidisciplinary approach for studies on Southeast Asia. It contributes to the scholarship on independent cinema, ecological memory, and landscape narration in the region, offering new insights into the relationship between nature and the urban within cultural and historical contexts. Its findings may raise public awareness about the role of nature in preserving cultural and historical memory, thereby supporting environmental protection and the maintenance of cultural heritage.

13. Further research directions: Building on the current findings, future research may expand to contemporary documentaries or art films from Southeast Asia, especially those by female directors or local artists. Ecological memory and landscape narratology could also be applied to studies of urban cinema, diasporic cinema, or intercultural cinema in the context of globalization. Further exploration is suggested on the connections between cinema and other art forms (eg, video art, installation art) in expressing ecological trauma.

14. Thesis-related publications: “Deconstructing Gender through Documentary Films on Ethnic Minorities by Nguyen Trinh Thi (Case Study: Letters from Panduranga)”,presented at the International Conference From the History of the Other: Women and Female Authors in Vietnamese Literature and Cinema, Nha TrangOctober 2023.